New Day Nursing Blog
Thinking of starting a new career in nursing? Have questions about the field? You’ve come to the right place! This site is jam-packed full of awesome information related to the field of nursing and nurse assisting.
What's Involved in Becoming a Nurse or CNA?
This is a pretty open-ended question, and the answer really varies depending upon what you want to do and what type of nursing that you want to get into. There are a lot of people who choose to become a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) first before any other type of nursing specialty because it typically takes the shortest amount of time (compared to other things like becoming an RN) and it gives people a chance to understand what nurses do, and whether or not they’ll like the field. Many people are wondering can I get my CNA certification online as that is often a deciding factor in their pursuit of the education. The answer is that yes, there are many CNA online programs to choose from! The good news is, online coursework is often faster and easier than going into a standard classroom. And as a bonus, if someone becomes a CNA and doesn’t like it, they typically will not have spent as much time preparing as if they became an RN and then decided on a career change.
Regardless of which nursing specialty you’re considering, there is typically an educational requirement, as well as some prerequisites and testing that needs to be completed. For Certified Nursing Assistants, this usually means undergoing a background check, making sure your immunizations are current, and then attending a qualified program. Generally speaking, the Department or Board of Nursing in your state will have a list of programs that are approved for CNA training or at least be able to provide you with some direction, as the research at this website suggests.
After completing a CNA course, you’ll then need to take the state CNA exam and once you pass that and have completed any other objectives, you’ll then generally be considered to be a CNA. If you want to become a Registered Nurse, this process is a bit more involved because you’ll typically need to attend at least a couple years of school and complete clinicals (which are somewhat like an internship), and you’ll also have to pass the NCLEX nursing exam. This generally takes at least two years, but can take more if you want to get a BSN. As with any career, that are a lot of steps and things that you need to understand before you get started. In nursing, because you need to be qualified to take care of patients, you’ll have to definitely spend some time training and studying, as well as passing various nursing exams.
Things to Know About Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Nurses
Nurses Are Important
No matter where a nurse or CNA works, they are important! Nurses are often some of the most important people on any medical team becauset they keep things together and running smoothly. They are often the first and most frequent point of contact with patients.
Nurses and CNAs Often Work in Hospitals
One of the most common places for nurses and CNAs to work in in a hospital setting. They will often help patients with wound care and a variety of other needs in situations like this, including transporting patients and more.
They Often Take Medical Measurements
Whether it’s blood pressure, height, weight, body temperature, or some other type of medical measurement, nurses and sometimes CNAs are often the people who take these measurements and then recored them.
Nurses Know First Aid & CPR
It’s almost a universal requirement that nurses and CNAs know both basic first aid techniques and also CPR so that they can respond to patient injuries or other situations that might require CPR or some other type of medical assistance.
